Well, they both have good reputations, so either one should suffice. I'd say the most important "pieces" are your monitor and graphics card -- people occasionally report problems when calibrating, there are various "chunks" at play. A Colormunki or Spyder device could have a problem and that comes up once in a while, but typically something else is at the "root cause". So getting a decent device and software is the beginning of the "journey"!

pbelarge wrote in post #14400673If it helps, I just purchased the color munki. I also purchased an IPS screen.I plan to calibrate by the weekend.If you have not purchased by then, I will let you know what I think.

The part in bold can be pretty important to get across to the OP -- if the OP is using an inexpensive/cheap/cons​umer monitor then there are other considerations besides basic calibration!

FWIW, I have the Spyder 3 Pro and am using it with my Mac Mini and an NEC LCD 24" Monitor. I have calibrated several times and never a bit of difficulty. Images on my monitor look fantastic: websites, photos, videos all look great. Calibration is pretty easy using their software.

Weird. I thought I priced out the colormunki at +$400 some time back. I just recently picked up the i1Display Pro because I thought I was saving money. Looks like I spent MORE. huh.

Anyhow, I'm fairly happy with my purchase. I calibrated my three screens and side-by-side one of the monitors appears warm and the other cool. Strange because the stock settings, it was reverse (cool vs warm, the other way around). The important thing is that my luminosity is way down from how I had it. It's a real eye opener, although, looking at my massive assortment of prints from over the years it seems that I was never really off track in the first place.

It's nice to know when you add a touch of warmth or if I bump my mid-tones up, that adjustment will actually reflect in my prints. Some prints suffered in the mid-tones to shadows area and so I'm hoping having an officially calibrated monitor will help in this area. Otherwise I may have wasted 250 bucks.

I had a spyder 3 express and it worked well for my CRT until it stopped working after about a year. I picked up a spyder 4 and ended up returning it because it gave my CRT a green color cast. Apparently they got rid of the contrast adjustment with the 4 which was somewhat of a disappointment.

I have an ISP now and am using a free program called calibrize which is good enough for me right now.

If I were to invest in a calibration device right now it deffinately wouldn't be a spyder.

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